Aging and Brain Research

Chronological age, measured from the time of birth, has long been a standard metric in healthcare and aging research. However, it is an imperfect measure, lacking the nuanced information provided by biological age, which considers various genetic and environmental factors. Biological age estimates are generated through mathematical models that use biomarkers as predictors and chronological age as the output. The difference between biological and chronological age—known as the “age gap”—serves as a complementary indicator of aging, offering additional insights beyond the limitations of chronological age alone. The utility of the "age gap" becomes evident when examining its correlation with specific exposures, like lifestyle choices or pre-existing health conditions. For instance, in brain age estimation, neuroimaging biomarkers are used as predictors. The "brain age gap" between model-predicted age and chronological age serves as an avenue to study the impact of gene...

Games can be a valuable part of mental well-being at any age. A new study looked at how playing different types of video games affects people's ability to remember things and ignore distractions. The study included 209 young adults (18–30 years old) and 181 older adults (60–81 years old). Participants were asked about their gaming habits and then given a memory task. Here's what the researchers found: Young adults who mainly played strategy and action games were better at remembering things than non-players. But when looking more closely, only the strategy part of the games helped improve memory and the ability to ignore distractions. Action games didn't have the same effect.  Playing puzzle games helped older adults remember things just as well as younger adults. This suggests that puzzle games might be a useful way to keep the mind sharp for older people. This study provides an interesting insight into how video games, often seen as entertainment, can have practical bene...

The human body's sensory system is intricate and profoundly connected to cognitive function. From vision to hearing, smell, taste, and touch, engaging our senses is not just about experiencing the world around us; it's about preserving our mental well-being. Recent research  based on 2967 included participants showed that older adults with moderate to severe distance vision issues were 72 percent more likely to have dementia. This startling statistic underscores the importance of prioritizing vision health. It's more than just about seeing clearly; it's about optimizing both sight and overall mental health.  Hearing is another sense that has a profound impact on cognitive function. Untreated hearing loss has been associated with a higher incidence of dementia in older adults. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain this link, from the diversion of cognitive resources to auditory processing to social isolation resulting from hearing loss. The latest aging resear...